Silica nanoparticles surface functionalization to improve penetration and treatment of biofilms

• Grant number: 15/22433-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 04, 2016
• End date: March 10, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Mateus Borba Cardoso
• Grantee: Maiara Emer
• Supervisor: Vincent M. Rotello
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass Amherst), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 14/01241-4 - Nanoparticle-bacteria interaction study based on surface functionalization of nanometric structures, BP.IC

Abstract

This research project intends to investigate tailored silica nanoparticle surface functionalization in order improve penetration of these particles into biofilms of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with goal of disrupting these films and killing the bacteria. Two classes of nanoparticles will be tested: (1) silica nanoparticles with different chemical functionalities (amine, isocyanate, carboxylic acid and mercapto) previously synthesized and characterized at LNLS (Brazil) and (2) silica nanoparticles (synthesized at LNLS) which will be functionalized with corona-free compounds at UMass. For the former group, bactericidal tests (counting plate method) using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were carried out at LNBio (Brazil) and the results duly described in the FAPESP 2014/01241-4 partial report. In this internship, the student Maiara Emer will be working under the guidance of Professor Vincent M. Rotello (University of Massachusetts Amherst -UMass, USA). Professor Rotello's group is currently employing concepts of molecular recognition to explore a wide range of important questions in areas of biology to materials chemistry. From the student point of view, the two important gains related to this visit are: (1) possibility of working with biofilms and (2) opportunity to work with other functionalization protocols. It is important to highlight that the student will be in touch with advanced synthesis strategies for nanoparticles surface modification used for eradicate highly resistant microbial assemblies. (AU)